OUGD505 - Studio Brief 2 - Feedback

I identified 3 issues from my initial research to take to a one-to-one crit in order to gain another perspective and identify if the issue has enough facts and sources to work from and whether it has enough scope for primary research.

Death Penalty

We highlighted the fact that the death penalty is a current debate and is still practiced in countries such as America. There has been a lot of campaigns against the act which I can use to back up my project and support my concept such as the facts I have identified from Amnesty International.

Suggested that I should look at more examples of how people raise awareness and try to tackle the death penalty in order to abolish it and find a unique angle to take forward. I want to avoid repeating previous campaigns in order to be innovative.

Syrian Freedom of Speech
Inspired by my research into V&A.

• Spray painting technique used is associated with rebellion, disobedience and a fight for freedom so they naturally seem to go together and compliment each other.

• Tackles the issue of giving the victims an identity, rather than just a number. 

With the Syrian refugee crisis being a current issue, this would be a current issue which means I can gain primary research and make an impact on society. 

It was also fed back that this concept would inform the production and materials for the solution. I explained how the civilians use newspapers and DIY methods to produce the stencils and paint whilst staying inconspicuous because they are at such a large threat.

• Needs more research - Build a better understanding of the events that took place in Syria that forced people to act.

Sea pollution

A current issue which is supported by Greenpeace and a variety of other independent charities.
We brainstormed some angles to which I can tackle the issue by focusing on a specific problem. Initially I have been looking at plastic in the ocean and washed up on beaches, however we identified there are more issues:

• Effects it is having on corral and marine life
• Look at how it effects surfing - The big clean up
• Oil spills
• Wildlife

This provides evidence that this concept has a lot of scope and I wouldn't be stuck for finding content as it is still an issue today. Peers thought an environmental issue would be strong because it is relevant today. 

Feedback Evaluation

Out of all three issues, I gained the best response for the Syrian freedom of speech issue because it is a current issue. I didn't gain a lot from the one-to-one crit so I decided to go out in search of more feedback and opinions based on the three identified issues.

CREATE/RAAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE - CREATE A CONVERSATION

Further feedback...

Spoke to John regarding the Syrian issue because I was anxious that I was delving into a sensitive subject. He saw the spray painted portraits of the martyrs as giving them an identity which is something I am passionate about, rather than giving them a number. He suggested looking at missing people to see how the spray painted portraits could be used to increase awareness of the identities of missing people.

I intend to carry out some more research based on missing people from around the world and the UK.

I explained the fact that they disguise the stencils in newspapers and paper bags to avoid being shot on the spot if they're caught. This would be an appropriate distribution method.

MISSING PEOPLE

Relate to the Syrian spray paints

Create a broadsheet with peoples faces/names/dates as stencils for people to go around and spray on buildings in order to find them?
A broad sheet would be appropriate format because it is light, reusable, cheap and tactile.